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Conor Owen was one of a number of youth players who attended an insightful Q&A session and museum tour with Rangers legend John Brown recently and the under-17s captain says hearing such inspirational words from Bomber has made him even more determined to succeed at the club.
The 16-year-old central defender has really kicked on this season and his form and attitude has earned him exposure to under-19s football where he is thriving.
Owen is an old-school centre half who loves nothing more than aggressive tackling, winning the ball in the air and letting opposing players know they are in for a battle.
He has progressed positively under the guidance of Academy coach Malky Thomson – who has worked with him extensively at 17s and 19s level –and is eager to learn as much as he possibly can about the game.
Conor is already well over 6 foot and has the confidence and infectious personality of a much older player.
A leader in the dressing room, he just loves everything about being a Rangers player and he approaches every training session and match as if it’s his last.
When Bomber addressed Conor and the 17s squad he told them to ‘Give it everything you’ve got, always give your best and have the right attitude every day you enter the building.’
Well, the young defender has certainly taken those messages to heart and is vowing to work as hard as he possibly can to follow in John’s footsteps and play for the first-team one day.
Speaking as he showed his support for The Rangers Youth Development Company – who donated another £300,000 to the Academy in February, making it more than £12.5 million so far – Owen said: “I just love listening to Bomber.
“At the start of the season, we had the chance to go and speak to him and hear about his football journey and it taught me so much.
“He is someone I look up to and I want to play the game like him.
“He had a reputation for being a hard man on the pitch but he was a really good player as well. He was probably underrated as he played in such a good Rangers team but I know he was so important and a real leader in the dressing room.
“It was a privilege to hear his stories and he gave us all great advice about what it takes to play here.
“He was just telling us that we need to work as hard as we can every day and I will continue to do that.
“Bomber was quite an aggressive player and I am too and he told me to keep that but keep working on my quality as well.
“We are all good players or we wouldn’t be at Rangers but you need more than that. You need personality, character and sometimes a bit of luck so I will do everything I can to succeed here.
“There is a great team spirit in the 17s and 19s groups and we all bounce off each other – on and off the pitch.
“I loved captaining the 17s team and I enjoy the responsibility.
“That’s my type of personality. I want to be the captain. I want to help the boys and lead by example.
“Everything is here for us to succeed and I know RYDC have donated so much money to help us develop at the Academy.
“I’ve been here since I was 7 or 8 and I love it. When the Rangers scouts contacted my family to say they were interested in me I was absolutely buzzing.
“We have the best coaches and facilities in Scotland and I love coming in to training every day.
“I’ve worked with John Lawson, Liam Ross, Malky Thomson and Steven Smith and you learn so much from them.
“They made me love football and gave me the passion and desire to progress here.
“They set high standards and know the values of the club and what Rangers is all about.
“I’m starting to get regular minutes with the 19s and I hope to play as many games as I can between now and the end of the season.
“It’s just about kicking on and doing everything I can to get to the first-team. I know that’s the next step, I know that’s in my head and the quicker I can get exposure the better.
“I’m always looking ahead. I’m never happy with where I am, so I always want to go to the next level.
“That’s the attitude you need to have, I think, to progress.
“Every Academy player wants to play with the first-team and I’ve done a couple set piece drills with them on Matchday Minus One and they were great experiences.
“I’m learning all the time and that’s what it’s about. I’m just trying to take it all in my stride and keep going.
“We’ve seen players like Findlay Curtis progressing from the Academy to the first-team and Callum Adamson and Lewis Stewart were on the bench for Europa League games this season and I would love to do the same one day.
“I just need to keep on developing. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to be a first-team player but I know the standards that are set here.
“I know the values and what the club means to so many people so I will do all I can to progress.”
Conor’s career development is assisted by annual RYDC donations to the Rangers Academy and more than £12.5 million has already been provided.
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